January 2015 Vol
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JANUARY 2015 VOL. 71, NO. 01 THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE Don’t miss the 2015 Winter Conference January 14-16 in Little Rock Download our free mobile app for locations throughout the Natural State. 1 Bentonville Mountain Home Rogers 1 Rector 1 2 1 Springdale Highland 1 1 Paragould Tontitown Mountain View 2 3 2 2 Siloam Fayetteville Monette Springs Batesville 1 Heber Springs 2 7 Van Buren 1 1 Clarksville Jonesboro 1 1 Greenbrier Russellville 1 Quitman 3 Atkins Searcy 3 1 Morrilton 3 Fort 1 1 Smith 1 7 1 2 Dardanelle Pottsville Beebe Conway Vilonia 1 Ward 1 5 Mayflower 3 Cabot Jacksonville 1 1 Maumelle Sherwood 5 North Little Rock 8 Bryant Little Rock 1 Fordyce 1 FOR ALL YOUR BANKING NEEDS, INCLUDING: BUSINESS & INVESTMENT INSURANCE PERSONAL LOANS SERVICES SERVICES MY100BANK.COM 888-372-9788 A Home BancShares Company ARKANSAS MUNICIPAL LEAGUE GREAT CITIES MAKE A GREAT STATE ON THE COVER—The lights of downtown Little Rock reflect in the water of the Arkansas River on a recent, chilly evening. We look forward to seeing you downtown for the League’s 2015 Winter Conference, Jan. 14-16, where we’ll prep for the 90th General Assembly and a great year for Arkansas municipalities. See page 24 in this issue to register if you haven’t already. Cover photo by Read also inside tips for newly elected officials, advice for communicating with legislators, an Andrew Morgan overview of laws governing records retention, and much more.—atm Features City & Town Contents Animal Control .....................................36 Tips for new leaders a'TEST .................................................32 The League exists to serve all 500 Arkansas Calendar .............................................39 6 cities and towns, and these Top 10 tips for Economic Development ..........................44 newly elected officials will help you make the Grant Money Matters ............................42 most of your relationship with us and learn from League Officers, Advisory Councils ...........5 the successes and failures of those who have Municipal Mart .....................................50 gone before. Planning to Succeed ..............................12 President's Letter .....................................4 Toss no document before its time Sales Tax Map ......................................47 The League’s legal team provides a personnel Sales Tax Receipts .................................48 8 document retention tutorial, covering the retention periods required by state and federal Turnback Estimates ................................46 law for various types of records. Urban Forestry ......................................34 Your Health ..........................................40 Be effective in the legislative process Municipal Notes ...................................51 With the 90th Arkansas General Assembly Obituaries ............................................51 11 convening soon, these 16 tips can help you be Professional Directory ............................62 a better advocate for your municipality’s needs and help city officials improve the quality of life in all of our cities and towns. Publisher Communications Director City & Town index Don Zimmerman Whitnee V. Bullerwell The annual index offers topic-by-topic and Editor Graphic Designer 52 name-by-name references to help keep track Andrew T. Morgan Mark R. Potter of five years’ worth of information, and a five- year legal index covering articles and attorney Advertising Assistant Email: general opinions helpful to municipalities. Tricia Zello [email protected] City&Town (ISSN 0193-8371 and Publication No. 031-620) facebook.com/ twitter@ARMuniLeague greatcitiesgreatstate.com is published monthly for $20 per year ($1.67 per single copy) Arkansas.Municipal.League by the Arkansas Municipal League, 301 W. Second St., North Little Rock, AR 72114. Periodicals postage paid at North Little Rock, Ark. youtube.com/user/ flickr.com/photos/ POSTMASTER: Send address changes to City&Town, ARMunicipalLeague arkansas_municipal_league www.arml.org P.O. Box 38, North Little Rock, AR 72115. JANUARY 2015 3 PRESIDENT'S LETTER Dear Colleagues, As we embark on a new year, this is a good time to reflect on all that we want to accomplish in 2015. The New Year is a great time to set goals individually, but it’s also a good time to set goals for ourselves as public servants. We have all made New Year’s resolutions in the past, but resolutions set in January are often a distant memory by March. Let’s all use this time to set meaningful goals that will guide us throughout the upcoming year so we can use our time as public ser- vants to make our municipalities the best they can be. I am pleased to welcome all of the newly elected officials who will be joining the Arkansas Municipal League for the first time. Public service is an impor- tant calling that can be both challenging and rewarding. I would recommend that all of our elected officials, both new and old, use the League as a resource that can help you on a daily basis deal with issues that your city may be facing. As you know the League’s Winter Conference will take place Jan. 14-16 at the Statehouse Convention Center and Marriott Hotel in Little Rock. The expanded agenda, which you will find in this issue of City & Town, includes op- portunities for you to learn about many important issues that will impact your city in the coming year. Since the 90th General Assembly will soon convene, this is a good time to remind everyone about the importance of having a good relationship with your elected officials. I hope you will contact the legislators from your district and let them know about the importance of cities to their district and to the state. Please contact your legislators to tell them that you appreciate their hard work and let them know that you are grateful for their votes that are favorable to our cities and towns. As always, if you have any questions during the legislative session, please contact Don Zimmerman at 501-978-6100 or Mark Hayes at 501-374-3484 ext. 222. All Best Wishes, Mark Stodola Mayor, Little Rock President, Arkansas Municipal League 4 CITY & TOWN LEAGUE OFFICERS, ADVISORY COUNCILS EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: Mayor Bob McCaslin, Bentonville; Mayor Scott McCormick, Crossett; Mayor Johnny Brigham, Dumas; Mayor Frank Hash, El Dorado; Mayor Larry Bryant, Arkansas Municipal Forrest City; Vice Mayor Kevin Settle, Fort Smith; Alderman Rose Marie Wilkinson, Haskell; City Manager Catherine Cook, League Officers Hope; Alderman Reedie Ray, Jacksonville; Clerk/Treasurer Linda Simpson, Lake City; Alderman Sam Angel, II, Lake Mayor Mark Stodola, Little Rock .............................President Village; Mayor Dennis Behling, Lakeview; Mayor Mike Watson, Mayor Rick Elumbaugh, Batesville .............First Vice President Maumelle; Mayor Gary Baxter, Mulberry; Mayor Joe Smith, Mayor James Sanders, Blytheville ..... Vice President, District 1 North Little Rock; Alderman Steven Mays, Pine Bluff; Mayor Sonny Hudson, Prairie Grove; Mayor Mike Kemp, Shannon Mayor David Morris, Searcy .............. Vice President, District 2 Hills; Mayor Virginia Hillman Young, Sherwood; Mayor Doug Alderman Bill Eaton, Russellville........ Vice President, District 3 Sprouse, Springdale; Mayor Harry Brown, Stephens; Mayor Mayor Billy Ray McKelvy, De Queen .. Vice President, District 4 Bob Freeman, Van Buren; Mayor Art Brooke, Ward; Alderman Don A. Zimmerman ...................................... Executive Director Dorothy Henderson, Warren PAST PRESIDENTS ADVISORY COUNCIL: Mayor Tab Roberts and Recorder/Treasurer Bobby Brown, McDougal; Mayor Townsell, Conway; Mayor JoAnne Bush, Lake Village; Mayor Robert Sullivan, McRae; Mayor Jim Reeves and Alderman Don Frank Fogleman, Marion; Alderman Murry Witcher, North Little Sappington, Norfork; Alderman Michael Barnett, Rison; Alderman Rock; Mayor Mike Gaskill, Paragould; Mayor Jackie Crabtree, Sue Skipper, Shannon Hills; Mayor Bobby Neal, Smackover; Pea Ridge; Mayor Robert Patrick, St. Charles Recorder/Treasurer Rita Fite, Sparkman; Recorder/Treasurer Jamie LARGE FIRST CLASS CITIES ADVISORY COUNCIL: City Cushman, Stephens Manager David Watkins, Hot Springs, Chair; Mayor James INCORPORATED TOWNS ADVISORY COUNCIL: Mayor Calhoun, Arkadelphia; City Clerk Jane Wilms, Bella Vista; Bobbie Bailey, Alpena, Chair; Mayor Lora Weatherford and Alderman Burton Head, Bentonville; Human Resources Manager Recorder/Treasurer Leila Skelton, Cushman; Mayor Michael Lester, Kathy Kirk, Benton; Aldermen Ann Gilliam, Ed Long, Jon Moore Gum Springs; Recorder/Treasurer Birdia Thompson, Jennette; and Director of Operations Eddie Cook, Cabot; Regional Landfill Mayor Danny Gifford, O’Kean; Alderman Janelle Riddle, St. Paul Director Bob Gaston, Helena-West Helena; Mayor Ruth Carney PUBLIC SAFETY ADVISORY COUNCIL: and Assistant City Manager Lance Spicer, Hot Springs; Aldermen Mayor Lioneld Jordan, Fayetteville Cabot Bill Howard and Kenny Elliott, Jacksonville; Aldermen Chris , Chair; Alderman Kevin Davis, ; Mayor John Fordyce Gibson, John Street and Chief Operating Officer L.M. Duncan, MacNichol, ; Fire Chief Bill Johnson and Police Chief Gassville Little Flock Jonesboro; Intergovernmental Relations Manager Emily Cox, Little Tim Mayfield, ; Mayor Buddy Blue, ; Police Little Rock Paragould Rock; Alderman James Moore, Magnolia; Clerk/Treasurer Joshua Captain Alice Fulk, ; Fire Chief Kevin Lang, ; Siloam Springs Clausen and Alderman Preston Lewis, Maumelle; City Clerk/ City Director Brad Burns, ; Alderman Charles Ward Collector Diane Whitbey,